Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1887-07-08
About The Bridge.

Editors Of the Tunes:
GENTLEMEN lit is singular how Editors o!
some se~ spapers frequently misrepresent facts
and am sorry to say that the practice has be-
come so universal that careful reader now u
DAYS seldom place any confidence in the state
meu,s he sees in print Particularly is this the
case with the .'Independeut." | noticed in
its local columns of last issue statement 10
the effect that the bridge which made =,
Cox's mill near Port Tobacco last August was
during the recent heavy rain totally wrecked.
Nov do not know from what source he
derived his Information, but AS il be trs false
hood on it's face, | feel called upon 10 cor
rect the miss-sta tsmeut-
The damage sustained was comparatively
slight, and consisted only in washing he loose
earth at the south end Of the bridge from be
hind the sbutment logs. which could have
been rep aced in "A few hours. The structure
itself was not injured in the slightest degree.
The uecbAni al part Of the work withsiood
nooly the heavy strain upon it. and stands to
day as solid and secure as il w.s before the
freshet came.
Now let us compare the present dana ges
With those of last year will 6rst state that
this bridge vas repaired 10 ga or IS by the
5th corps and was wrecked duriog the he.vy
fall of water in July SO, when | vas called
upon bv the County Commissioners to repair
it. When came 10 examine the amount OF
damages, found that not only one but both
the abutmeuts bad been wsshed away logs md
all; ionr OF the main braces aud one corner
post gone; the mud sill at the north end Of
,hr bridge washed from its proper posiIioa
into the middle Of the stream. leaving nothing
for th. structure TO rest upon. In short, IL
was . complete wreck. Before undertskng the
work reported its condition 10 the Commis-
s,n I'D 1raE fheir n m ar
ticsbrliiy Of erecting a permsast wooded
structure at that point, owing TO the large
volume Of water which passes IL and the loose
nature Of the soil in the immediate vacIniiy
and recommended = stone or brick arch; but
the funds in the treasury were Eot sufficient 10
meet the expenses OF stone or brick structure
.ua uss directed to do the best with what
m.teriai | could obtain. Ny next plsu -.s
10 place heavy rocks which could hsss brea
obtaiRed about = mile iron The bridget within
the abu,ment logs, as high As the water was
likely to rise; 50 there could be no washing
until The logs decayed, but just As | arrived at
this par, Of the work my labor ~as taken from
me Ito 60 TO Other parts Of the county aud
wss forced to complete the work with the ma
teriai near ., hand, end | must confess il was
done contrary 10 mr. judgement.
Now Nr. Editors these are the facts 10 The
ease, and As very sensible m-n knows that
when the sbatment OF bridg~ Is earr'-d assy
BY rush of water, the bridge itself, unl-ss
properly CONSTRUCTED mus, 60 9th il, ths oyia-
ION Of the Independent to tas contrary not
As TO the comparative cost Of
in "a or IS and So sm not prepared
TO state. but suppose that am one sutfsi-r,ly
in the matter can obtain the desired
Information FROM the books o; thu Coaay
Con- miss toner's.
Very respectfully yours,
&c PACE